Early Literacy Tips

It is never too early to start reading with your child. Even young infants can benefit from exposure to books and reading. Parents and teachers are essential partners in any child’s development of reading, writing, and language skills which can lead to school success. Go to our Literacy Connection website for information on early literacy activities you can do with your child to encourage early literacy skills. Link to literacyconnection.wcpss.net

Preschool Literacy Tips for Families

Parents and teachers are essential partners in a preschool child’s development of
reading, writing, and language skills. Family members can do the following
activities at home to encourage preschool literacy. Be a model for your child.
Children learn that reading and writing are important when they see adults using
these skills!

Spend time in conversation with your child to develop vocabulary and knowledge of the
world. Label what you see and explain how things work. Oral Language

Play with language to help your child listen to rhymes and letter sounds. Read nursery rhymes
and other rhyming books. See how many rhyming words you can think of together: hop, top,
bop, mop, lop, stop, drop, and flop. Use words that start with the same letter (alliteration) and
help your child to hear the letter sounds- ex: 'Big Bob bounced a ball.' Phonological
Awareness

Teach your child about letters and words. Notice words and letters in the world around you.
Read cereal boxes and favorite snacks. Post your child’s name in his or her room. Point out the
letters in your child’s name that you see in signs and billboards around town. Alphabet
Knowledge

Read aloud with your child every day. Talk about the stories you read to make them more
meaningful to your child. Children will learn about books and print, for example: we read the
words, rather than the pictures, from left to right, and from the front of a book to the back.
Print Concepts

Encourage your child to draw and write by allowing access to pencils, crayons, markers,
chalk and a variety of paper. Activities to develop the muscle strength needed to be able to
write successfully include: playing with play dough, tearing and crumpling paper, scooping and
pouring, using Lego blocks, sticking stickers, and using tongs. Help your child send a letter or
write an important list. Writing

Use your child’s native language when you talk, read, write, play and
sing. This will create a strong sense of self and support your child’s
roots in addition to building a solid foundation of basic language
concepts. Remember that you are the first and most important educator
in your child’s life. English Language Learners

It is important to accept and encourage all attempts from your children as
they begin to write. As they practice and feel successful, they will progress at
their own pace from the scribbling stage to writing recognizable letters.

Ask a relative to be a pen pal. Children can draw
pictures or copy simple words to mail to the person.
Children enjoy drawing and writing when they know they
will get a letter in return.

Talk to children about the letters and words you are writing when you write
a message to a family member. Encourage them to help you write part of the
message.

Encourage children to draw pictures and dictate stories to you. They enjoy
seeing their words written down.